Surviving The Game as a Barbarian (Novel) Chapter 268, 269, 270

   

C268, 269, 270

Chapter 268: Parune Island (2)

“We were exploring the center of the island when an unknown team suddenly attacked us.”

There was an ambush.

It was a team of five.

Each of them was a powerful explorer, at least 7th-floor level, and they were on the verge of being wiped out before they could even fight properly.

The biggest factor was that they started the battle without a mage.

Well, it seemed like they fought hard despite the disadvantage…

“The situation kept getting worse, and eventually, Mr. Drowus made a decision.”

…but one of the team members finally made a decision.

To sacrifice himself and save his companions.

However, it felt different from Dwarkey’s case.

“…So you ran away while your companion was buying time?”

The priestess blushed and made an excuse as I asked incredulously.

“I was against it. I told them several times that we couldn’t leave him alone—”

What is she talking about?

If she was truly against it, she wouldn’t be here with me.

“Enough. I understood the explanation, just tell me the important part. What happened next?”

“…I don’t know what happened to Mr. Drowus, but we were soon chased. And I got separated from the others.”

No wonder she was running alone.

Now I roughly understood the situation.

It was time to focus on the details.

Right, first…

“But who’s Drowus?”

“Guardweaver Drowus. The blond swordsman who saved you and gave you a potion that day.”

Ah, so his name was Drowus.

It was the blond’s name that I learned after over a year, but there was no time to reminisce.

“What kind of people were those who attacked you? Tell me in detail.”

I then asked about the unidentified 5-person team, and the priestess told me everything she remembered.

The abilities they used during the battle, their appearances, and even the names they called each other.

That’s when, as I was listening intently, thinking that this information might save my life…

…I froze.

“Wait, a woman with red hair?”

One of their descriptions resembled someone I knew.

“Yes. She seemed to be the leader of the group. Is there something wrong…?”

Damn it, of course there’s a problem.

How many human women with red hair who used Aura and wielded daggers were there in this city?

And I even asked for details, and the location of her tattoo and the fact that her right ear was half-severed matched.

There was no possibility that it was just someone who looked similar.

‘…Amelia Rainwales, her again?’

I felt a sense of dread.

After all, Amelia was from Noark.

And the other four people she was with were also likely from Noark.

In other words…

‘This wasn’t just a simple robbery.’

Tsk, it seemed like I was caught up in something really troublesome.

The priestess looked at me cautiously and asked,

“…Do you know her?”

“Maybe.”

I brushed it off with a lie and then asked a few more questions.

“Let’s forget about that and continue. Ersina, was there anything unusual about them?”

“Unusual…?”

“Anything strange. Do you have any guesses as to why they ambushed you?”

“That’s…”

The priestess trailed off and then spoke after a moment of contemplation.

“I didn’t think much about it back then because I was flustered, but now that I think about it, there was something strange.”

“Just get to the point.”

“What Mr. Drowus said when he volunteered to buy time. He said it was his responsibility and that we shouldn’t be involved and should just leave. Back then, I thought he was just saying that as a leader, but…”

“It’s definitely strange.”

“Yes. And besides, it seemed like he knew the people who ambushed us. They said something about him being a traitor and to hand something over…”

What?

“Why are you only telling me this now?”

Wasn’t that obviously the reason they were attacked?

The priestess’s voice became as quiet as a whisper as I looked at her incredulously.

“I, I was too flustered back then…”

Anyway, regardless of the priestess’s frustrating side…

…I could roughly picture the situation now.

[Noark sent a few people to the surface right before the lockdown. Their goal is to kill one explorer! Surprising, right?]

According to what Clown said at the Round Table, the infiltrators, including Amelia, were given assassination missions.

Of course, I didn’t know who the target was until now.

But…

‘Maybe it was him.’

Then what the hell was that Drowus guy?

That’s when, as I was thinking about it…

“But Viscount Yandel…”

“It’s Viscount.”

“Ah, yes… Anyway, Viscount Yandel, why were you alone here?”

The priestess, who had only been answering questions, finally asked me one.

It seemed like she was finally curious about my situation.

“My boat sank while we were leaving the island, and I got separated from my companions.”

“Yes?”

What do you mean ‘yes’?

It means we have to work together for now.
_____________________

“Let’s talk while we’re moving.”

“Yes? What do you mean…? Don’t tell me you’re going inside?”

“I promised to meet my companions in the center if we got separated.”

“I, I see. But there’s…”

The priestess looked at me with a reluctant gaze.

I knew what she was thinking.

It must feel like she’s entering a tiger’s den.

But she was also separated from her companions.

‘Geez, this priest is only worried about herself.’

“Don’t come if you don’t want to. I’ll go alone.”

I spoke firmly instead of trying to persuade her politely, and the priestess reluctantly followed my decision.

After all, what could she do alone?

She didn’t have a boat, and even if she did, the sea was in that state.

“…But do you know why the wind is blowing like this? It’s like a storm suddenly started.”

Well, I wanted to ask that.

“I don’t know, but monsters are gathering from the shore.”

“…I see.”

It was as much of a mystery to me as what that Drowus bastard was up to.

I understood that there was an ambush.

But who triggered the island’s event, and why?

If they knew the activation condition, they would have also known how dangerous it was.

‘Well, I’ll find out eventually.’

Whether I liked it or not, I was trapped on this island.

I would eventually meet Amelia or her companions.

‘Let’s just focus on reuniting with my companions for now.’

I dismissed my negative thoughts and moved towards the island with the priestess.

At first, I was leading the way, and she was following behind…

“It will take hours at this rate. Come here.”

…but I started carrying her midway because she was too slow.

The monsters we encountered along the way weren’t a problem.

I would have been fine even if I passed through with my bare body…

…and the priestess had this skill.

「Lyrine Ersina has cast [Invulnerability].」

It was a buff-type divine spell that prevented monsters below 7th grade from attacking first.

It was a bit funny.

The Tovera Church, one of the three churches in Lafdonia, had a unique rule.

That they weren’t allowed to use divine power on barbarians.

‘Geez, how petty.’

A barbarian had peed on a statue of Tovera after getting drunk thousands of years ago?

I heard that was the reason why the rule was established.

That must have been why she didn’t treat me back then when I was crawling through the cave on three legs.

“So even the Sun God allows you to break the rules in times like this?”

“I understand your feelings, Viscount Yandel, but please don’t insult Him.”

The priestess retorted in a slightly sharp tone as I teased her.

“…It’s my problem that I broke the rules. Please blame me if you need to blame someone.”

Geez, she’s so serious.

“You misunderstood. I wasn’t planning to blame anyone.”

Damn right, you have to use it to survive.

No matter how much you like God, you wouldn’t want to meet him this early, right?

“If you were hurt by what happened back then… I apologize. But the reason I insisted on following the rules that day was because it was a situation that could be resolved with a potion. I really wasn’t trying to ignore you.”

Hmm, it seemed like she was sincere.

“It’s fine, I understand your situation.”

I briefly answered and dismissed any lingering resentment.

What could an individual do about a rule set by a group?

“Anyway, let’s stop talking about this. It’s not important right now.”

“Yes.”

We stopped chatting and focused on moving.

And after some time…

“Th, this is it. This is where those marauders…”

“…Be quiet.”

…we finally reached the center of the island.

There was nothing around us.

Just traces of a battle that had taken place a while ago.

“…I guess you can deactivate the divine power now.”

I first had the priestess deactivate her divine spell.

And I slowly searched the surroundings.

It seemed like I was the first to arrive, as none of my companions were there.

“There’s really no one here…”

There was no sign of Drowus, the team leader who sacrificed himself, nor the mage who was said to have been killed when the ambush started.

What the hell happened here?

“Then what are we going to do now?”

I answered the priestess’s question without hesitation.

“Wait. Until someone comes here, whether it’s an enemy or a companion.”

“Yes, I see. Okay.”

Contrary to my expectations, the priestess didn’t object and readily agreed. I asked her why, and she answered,

“I also have to meet up with my companions.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s impossible to leave the island now, isn’t it? If my companions who escaped encountered yours on the shore, there’s a high chance they’re heading here now.”

Right, so she followed me after thinking that far.

“Ersina, aren’t you afraid that your companions are all dead?”

I asked involuntarily, and the priestess answered,

“Of course, I’m afraid. But the more that’s the case, the more I have to believe.”

Ah, right, she’s a priest.

I briefly regretted asking such a question…

“That’s all we can do.”

…but she wasn’t wrong.

‘I hope they’re all safe…’

That was all I could do right now.
______________________

Swaaa!

The sound of crashing waves filled my ears.

“Ugh, ueeeeek…”

Misha Kaltstein opened her eyes, vomiting seawater.

And she quickly checked her surroundings.

“Ai, Ainar!”

Her heart sank.

After all, Ainar was the one who was next to her until the very end after the boat capsized.

She had desperately tried to hold onto Ainar in that violent storm, thinking she had to be responsible for her since she couldn’t swim…

“I lost her.”

Anxious thoughts started to fill her mind.

Was Ainar okay?

What would she say to Bjorn when she saw him?

No, in the first place, Bjorn…

Slap!

Misha slapped herself on both cheeks.

She came to her senses.

“Good thoughts, good thoughts…”

She had also woken up safely on the shore, even though she had been unconscious.

Everyone would be fine.

Right, so…

[If we get separated, meet at the center of the island!!]

…Misha recalled Bjorn’s last shout and brushed off the dirt on her hands and face.

And she slowly walked towards the forest.

That’s when…

Thud.

…she heard a presence next to her.

“…Ainar? Ainar?”

Misha ran towards the sound, calling out her name, and she soon encountered a stranger.

“You.”

“Uh, uh…?”

“You’re Bjorn Yandel’s companion.”

It was a human woman with red hair and a scar where half of her right ear was missing.

-----------------------------------

Chapter 269: Parune Island (3)

A woman stared at one spot with a cold gaze.

At the end of her gaze was a man’s corpse.

Guardweaver Drowus.

The trash who tried to escape from his past sins with a new name and live a second life.

Right, that must have been the case…

“Sister, what’s wrong?”

…but Amelia unconsciously bit her lip.

She didn’t feel as refreshed as she thought she would.

“Are you worried because his companions ran away? Hey, don’t worry too much. The other two went after them, right? They’ll catch them soon.”

Even her immature companion, who had been whining throughout the journey, was being considerate of her, but Amelia didn’t have the time to care.

[It’s my responsibility. You shouldn’t be involved. So go!]

The image of him sacrificing himself for his companions kept flashing before her eyes.

At first, she was dumbfounded.

What the hell was he talking about?

After betraying them?

And for people who didn’t even know what kind of person he was?

Crack.

She gritted her teeth.

If he could do that, why didn’t he do it for them?

“But we recovered the item, right? Even if they escape alive, our mission is a success.”

Amelia then dismissed her thoughts and looked at the jewel in her hand.

The legacy of Archmage Gavrilius, a treasure that had been passed down through the Lords of Noark for a long time.

Come to think of it, this was also a bit unsettling.

To be precise, the words she heard while taking it from him kept coming back to her.

[Amelia, you can’t change anything with this.]

To say that when he knew what this item meant to her.

“…….”

Amelia used the poison she had to melt the corpse away. And she put the jewel in her subspace pocket.

After all, the leaders of Noark had all left for the outside world, and communication was difficult.

She would be keeping it for a while.

She planned to find a way to use this jewel later when she returned, there was no need to rush.

‘I finally got it.’

She had finally achieved her long-cherished goal. Amelia shook off her unsettling feeling with that thought.

That’s when…

“But sister.”

…Carmilla, the team’s summoner and the one with the means to travel on the 6th floor, subtly approached her.

Her eyes were filled with curiosity.

“Is this really that item?”

It wasn’t a sentiment she couldn’t understand.

After all, this was an item that was only spoken of in legends within Noark, an item that was considered even more fictional than the ‘Stone of Resurrection’ in some ways.

Therefore, Amelia didn’t give her any room for interpretation.

“I don’t know.”

Of course, she knew.

That the stories about this item weren’t just made up, and that the item she had just put in her subspace pocket was definitely the real deal.

But there was a saying, ‘opportunity makes a thief’, right?

It would be foolish to create a variable by talking about it.

“Come on, sis. You were close to that guy, right? You must know whether it’s real or not.”

“I’m telling you, I don’t know. And it doesn’t matter to us whether it’s real or not. Our mission is just to retrieve what he had and return.”

Amelia drew a line once again.

And just as she was about to turn around…

“What, judging by your reaction, it must be real.”

…Carmilla chuckled.

“Wow, I can’t believe this actually exists.”

It sounded like a childish joke.

But Amelia, who had seen all sorts of things in her life, instinctively reached for her dagger.

That’s when…

Thump!

…she felt a burning sensation in her back.

“I apologize, Lady Rainwales.”

She had only been wary of Carmilla.

When she came to her senses, a warrior’s sword was piercing her stomach.

But so what?

Amelia made a judgment in the time it took to regret her mistake.

“Mister, good job!”

The blade was below her ribs.

“When are you going to call me brother?”

Although her organs were damaged, it wasn’t a fatal wound.

Therefore…

“What, you’re only half… ugh!”

…she quickly pulled out her dagger and thrust it forward.

Her target was Carmilla.

The woman she had wanted to kill countless times.

Whoosh!

Unfortunately, it was a bit short.

But it didn’t matter.

She had a trick she learned while fighting the barbarian.

Whoosh!

The missing distance was covered as soon as she imbued the tip of her dagger with Aura.

Thump!

“Aak!!”

The tip of the dagger pierced Carmilla’s eye.

“That’s a shame.”

She could have pierced her brain if it had gone in just a bit deeper.

Whoosh!

The sword that was embedded in her stomach was pulled out.

Her body staggered from the recoil.

But there was no time to rest.

“Damn it!”

The warrior’s sword swung towards her vital points.

Amelia extended her arm, judging that it would be difficult to dodge.

Because her arm wasn’t a vital point.

Slash!

The sharp sword severed her arm.

Although she saved her life, it was a huge loss in battle.

But it wasn’t a big problem.

If her body was damaged, she could just use a clone to fight.

Tadat.

Amelia used the Doppelganger’s [Self-Replication] to create a clone right behind the warrior.

And she immediately swung her leg towards his head.

It was a combo that most enemies couldn’t even react to.

“Be, behind you!”

An explosion occurred as the clone’s foot landed on the warrior.

Kwaaang!

It wasn’t the sound of his head being crushed, which was her target.

“Ugh!”

Her foot landed on his shoulder.

He had twisted his body to the side just in time after the warning.

Thump!

The warrior’s sword pierced her stomach again as punishment for her failed attack.

Although it wasn’t a deep wound because he had quickly pulled back to avoid her clone…

‘He might die.’

It was dangerous.

That’s when, as that thought dominated Amelia’s mind…

“What are you doing, take my arm!”

…the warrior rolled on the ground and picked up his severed arm.

It was the arm with the subspace bracelet.

Amelia, feeling a sense of despair, chased after the warrior with her clone.

But…

“Yongyong, let’s go!”

…she was three steps too late.

[Roar!]

The warrior got on the drake summoned by Carmilla.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The drake soared into the sky.

She could hear their conversation, buried beneath the sound of its powerful wings.

“…Amelia Rainwales. She’s a terrifying woman. I didn’t expect her to be so threatening even in that state.”

“Enough, give me a potion!”

“Let’s talk first. What are we going to do? We didn’t kill her properly.”

“Damn it, who cares! She’ll die anywa—”

That was all she could hear with her enhanced hearing.

They had completely disappeared into the sky.

“Damn it.”

Amelia cursed for the first time in a while.

But nothing would change by complaining.

The only way to save herself in a desperate situation was to act.

Thud.

Amelia had her clone carry her real body.

And she quickly left.

She judged that it would be the end if they came back down to confirm her death.

Thud, thud.

Amelia continued moving, not even knowing which direction she was going.

After some time…

…she was still walking, even though her Soul Power was depleted and [Self-Replication] was deactivated.

Thud.

Her body froze at the presence she felt next to her.

She thought she would live if it was her companions who went to chase the others, and that she would die if it wasn’t.

It was a life-or-death situation.

But…

“…Ainar? Ainar?”

…surprisingly, Amelia’s prediction was wrong.

“You.”

“Uh, uh…?”

“You’re Bjorn Yandel’s companion.”

She looked up.

Thud!

It was a cat.
_____________

“Ugh, what the hell?!”

Misha was confused.

Well, it was only natural.

Anyone would be if a woman with a severed arm and a hole in her stomach suddenly appeared and collapsed in front of them.

‘Uh, uh… is she one of the explorers who were fighting?’

“Po, potion. Right, potion first…”

Although the woman’s identity was unknown, Misha first opened her wet expandable backpack and took out a potion.

Whether this woman was good or bad…

No, in the first place, she didn’t even know if there was such a thing as a ‘good’ side…

[You’re Bjorn Yandel’s companion.]

…but the woman’s last words before collapsing made her decide without hesitation.

Right, she might know Bjorn.

Let’s treat her first.

Pop!

Misha opened the potion bottle and hurriedly poured it on the woman’s wounds.

But what was this?

Sizzle.

She didn’t hear the bubbling sound that was unique to potions.

The potion just flowed into the wounds as if it were cold water.

“Huh? I bought this from an authorized general store.”

Although she didn’t understand, Misha took out another potion from her bag, remembering the time she bought a fake potion in the early days.

But it was the same this time.

‘…Why isn’t it working?’

Don’t tell me this one was also fake?

Misha then poured a bit of potion on a scratch she got while falling into the water as a test.

Sizzle!

The potion was fine, judging by the intense itching.

But why wasn’t it working on this woman?

Although she didn’t know, Misha didn’t give up.

She learned from Bjorn that a barbarian’s spirit was to use their gums if they didn’t have teeth.

‘It’s been a while since I used this…’

Misha took out herbs and bandages.

First aid supplies she had been saving in case there was a situation where she couldn’t use potions.

“This might sting a bit… ah, she probably can’t hear me.”

Misha first cleaned the wounds with disinfectant and then applied herbs and wrapped them with bandages.

And she spread out a blanket on the ground and laid the woman down.

With that, the temporary treatment was over.

She had done everything she could, and the rest was up to this woman’s will.

“…She’s breathing well.”

Misha watched her for a while and then squatted next to the blanket after confirming that her breathing had stabilized.

And she sighed deeply.

“Ugh, I can’t just leave her here…”

If she was just unconscious, she would have carried her…

…but that wasn’t possible in her current state.

“Bjorn will be waiting…”

Misha made a sullen face.

But she couldn’t just leave this woman behind.

That’s when, after about 10 minutes…

Screech, screech!

…Misha turned her head at an unpleasant sound.

“Ah, what the hell is that…”

Monsters were crawling out from the shore.
___________________

Thud, thud, thud, thud.

The rhythmic sound of flesh hitting flesh continued.

It was the sound coming from my hands.

I couldn’t keep them still.

I kept twitching my fingers.

It was only natural.

‘2 hours.’

That’s how much time had passed since I arrived at the center.

Even if I arrived early, at least one of my companions should have arrived by now.

‘Why isn’t anyone here?’

I tried to have faith, but ominous thoughts kept filling my mind.

Misha, Raven, the bear-like man, Ainar, and Erwen…

Were they really okay?

I should have walked along the shore instead of coming to the center…

“Are you planning to stay here?”

The priestess asked cautiously as I was anxiously trembling.

She seemed like a cult member.

No, wait, she was the one who told me to have faith earlier.

“You’re a priest, and you’re giving up so easily?”

Although I grumbled…

…I knew deep down that her reaction wasn’t strange, even considering her profession as a priest.

Screech, screech!

As proof, marine monsters that only appeared during the event were starting to show up here and there.

They had walked all the way here at a pace that was less than half of a human’s walking speed.

‘This place will be filled with stronger monsters soon. The shore is probably already swarming with them.’

But no one had arrived yet.

“Ersina.”

“Yes?”

“We’re moving. Waiting isn’t my style.”

“It seems like you still have faith.”

What is she talking about?

She was the one who told me that was all we could do.

“If you were human, Viscount Yandel, you might have become a devout follower.”

Geez, a devout follower, my ass.

I felt a strange sensation as a proud modern atheist, but I didn’t say anything since her tone was closer to admiration than sarcasm.

“Stop with the nonsense and get up.”

“Yes.”

I helped the priestess up and got ready.

And just as we were about to leave…

Thud.

…a visitor finally arrived after almost two hours.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t one of my teammates.

He was a skinny man covered in minor injuries, as if he had just been through a tough battle.

He had a longbow slung over his shoulder.

And his green hair was covered in dirt.

“…Viscount Yandel.”

Enemy or ally?

It wasn’t difficult to tell.

He asked, looking at us,

“What did you do to Lady Rainwales?”

What a coincidence.

I also had a question for him.

I asked, ignoring the ringing in my ears,

“Hey, why do you have Raven’s subspace ring?”

You better answer properly.

Or you’ll die.

-------------------------------------

Chapter 270: Parune Island (4)

A rough sea with crashing waves.

Arrua Raven was currently flying above it.

She was shouting at the top of her lungs, something she hadn’t done in a while.

“Mr. Urikfrit! Hang in there! We’re almost there!”

Below her, Avman was being tossed around on a single plank.

Her heart skipped a beat every time a large wave crashed over him, but there was nothing more she could do.

‘I have to take care of Mr. Avman…’

The other companions had all disappeared when the boat capsized, and she had only found Avman after searching the area.

So she had been following him to keep track of his location…

“Huh?”

…but he had disappeared beneath the surface, as if he had lost his grip on the plank.

Raven hurriedly descended.

But she still couldn’t see him.

“Mr. Urikfrit! Mr. Urikfrit!!”

She shouted for a while, flying around, but there was no answer.

She shivered as if she had a chill.

“…No, he’ll be fine.”

Raven then changed her mind and headed towards the shore.

And…

“Found him!”

…she finally found him after searching the area around the shore.

Avman was lying unconscious on the sand, washed ashore by the waves.

“Whew.”

He was breathing properly, and his body temperature didn’t seem to have dropped much.

She first dried his wet clothes and body with fire magic and then waited for him to wake up.

That’s when…

“It’s not the one I was looking for…”

“…….”

“…but this isn’t bad either.”

…a man appeared from the forest.
____________________

My head spun.

Why did this guy have Raven’s ring? No matter how hard I tried to think positively, I couldn’t imagine a good scenario.

But…

“Hey, why do you have Raven’s subspace ring?”

…I asked, holding onto the last shred of hope.

“Explain.”

I used superhuman patience, hoping there was some misunderstanding I didn’t know about.

But the answer I received was different from what I expected.

“I’ll ask the questions first.”

So he wasn’t going to give me the initiative?

Then he chose the wrong time.

“Really?”

“I’ll ask again, what did you do to Lady Rainwale—”

“Then die.”

I pushed off the ground and moved forward.

I judged that I could ask questions after establishing the hierarchy.

“……!”

He stepped back as my body, which had leaped high, expanded rapidly with [Gigantification].

But what a shame.

「Character’s total weight is over 500 kg.」

「The special terrain effect [Recoil] is additionally applied to the damage radius.」

He couldn’t dodge this if he retreated that much.

Kwaaang!

The ground shook and rippled from the landing point.

“Ugh…!”

He was thrown into the air like a spring, as expected of an archer with a slender build.

I immediately dashed towards him, not missing the opportunity.

And I quickly extended my hand, as expected of a barbarian.

That’s when…

「Nebarche Greenhope has cast [Emergency Escape].」

…he disappeared right in front of me like a mirage.

There was no reason to panic.

I quickly scanned my surroundings as if moving a 3D game camera, and I saw him 20 meters away.

Right, as expected, it was a blink-type skill.

He couldn’t go far.

Tadat.

I adjusted my posture in midair.

He was already shooting an arrow, as expected of a high-ranking archer.

Whoosh!

It seemed like he even used a skill, judging by the white light surrounding the arrowhead…

…but it wasn’t a problem.

「Character has cast [Transcendence].」

Bion’s ability, which I obtained as a reward from the royal family.

「The next skill used is enhanced.」

After all, I didn’t get this essence just to use it with [Gigantification].

「Character has cast [Leap].」

「The inherent ability of the skill is unlocked by the power of the Transcendent.」

Transcendence Leap, for short.

The effect was simple.

「Can be used in midair…」

First, it could be used even while airborne, greatly increasing its utility.

And…

「Travel time is greatly reduced.」

…it became faster.

Much faster.

Flash!

The moment I pushed off the ground with my foot…

…I was already in front of him.

With all the effects of [Leap].

Kwaaang!

His body was thrown into the air again, unable to withstand the recoil.

I quickly reached out and grabbed his neck.

“Keugh!”

He groaned in pain.

I didn’t feel any sympathy.

Distance control was an archer’s lifeline.

He had to die for failing to do that properly.

“Die.”

I put strength into my hand that was holding his neck.

I wasn’t too worried about him escaping.

First, most blink-type skills had a long cooldown…

…and even if he escaped with another skill, I could just catch him again.

“Ugh…!”

His struggle intensified.

His neck would probably snap if I applied any more force.

That’s when I came to my senses.

“Hey.”

It wasn’t a good idea to just snap his neck.

I had to at least hear him out.

And if it wasn’t the story I was hoping for, snapping his neck wouldn’t be enough.

Thud.

I loosened my grip, and his body collapsed to the ground. I stepped on his stomach to prevent him from doing anything stupid and bent down.

And I grabbed his wrist…

Crack!

…and broke it instead of his neck.

The wrist of the hand with Raven’s ring.

“……!”

He couldn’t even scream from the pain, his eyes rolling back.

It wasn’t something I should be concerned about.

He had endured enough.

“Where did you get this ring?”

I asked him the same question again.

Although we had both just asked what we wanted to ask earlier…

…it was different this time.

“Wh, what the hell are you talking about?!”

He answered.

Although it wasn’t a proper answer.

“Just answer my question.”

“Ugh…!”

“Where did you get this ring?”

I looked at his frail body as I asked. Although I had already broken his wrist, there were still many parts I could break.

And did he realize that?

“Th, the Kerman Magic Workshop in the 7th district!”

He shouted hurriedly.

“I bought it there!”

It was a completely unexpected answer.

“…What?”

I froze, having been prepared to move on to the next stage of interrogation if he gave me an ambiguous answer like he found it by chance or that he took it but didn’t kill her.

“You bought it…? You didn’t steal it from Raven?”

“I don’t even know who Raven is!”

His voice was filled with genuine indignation.

Although it didn’t seem like he was lying…

…I couldn’t be sure.

Maybe he was a really cunning bastard who came up with this lie.

“Ack, aak!”

I took off the ring after grabbing his dangling hand.

And I opened my subspace pocket and searched inside.

It was full of equipment, consumables, and what seemed to be personal belongings.

I sighed deeply after checking a few things.

‘What, it’s really not Raven’s.’

It wasn’t Raven’s ring.

The proof was that there were no magic reagents, which should have been there. There was no way he would have thrown away all the expensive magic reagents after stealing the ring.

‘Ah, come to think of it, Raven also said she bought it from a magic workshop…’

Right, I trusted her.

Damn right, what kind of woman is she?

There’s no way she would be easily tricked.

“So, so you’re no longer misunderstanding?”

“Right, it seems like you really bought this ring.”

I readily admitted that I was mistaken, as expected of a barbarian whose greatest strength was his honesty. And I took my foot off him, his wrist still broken and wriggling.

“Bu, but why are you putting it in your pocket…?”

Well, that’s one thing, and this is another, right?

This ring was mine now.

After all, people from Noark were treasure goblins.

“Do you have a problem with that?”

“…….”

He expressed his lack of objection with silence.

In other words, the transfer process was complete.

I took all his equipment and weapons and put them in my subspace pocket, and the preparations for a non-violent conversation were complete.

“Who are you?”

I started asking him about his personal information, starting with his name, and what had happened on this island.

He answered everything readily, as if he didn’t want to die yet.

His name was Nebarche Greenhope.

“Your face looks familiar…”

“That’s because we’ve met before.”

“What? You and me? When?”

“When there was a fire in Karnon, the Imperial City.”

I remembered as soon as he said that.

When I encountered the Ruin Scholar, there was a guy who was following him like a lackey.

‘I can’t believe it was him.’

Anyway, it didn’t matter.

It seemed like he didn’t know what the Ruin Scholar and Lee Baekho talked about after they left.

“So, tell me. Everything that happened today.”

I then heard the rest of the story from him, the parts I didn’t hear from the priestess.

First, they were after the blond guy.

“He was originally from Noark. But he betrayed the Lord, stole a treasure, and ran away.”

“Wa, wait a minute. Mr. Drowus was from Noark…?”

“Even his name is fake. It was very difficult to find him because he changed his face and disappeared.”

The priestess stared blankly into space, as if she couldn’t believe it.

Well, I would be the same.

If I suddenly heard that Misha was an evil spirit.

“So what happened to him?”

“He’s dead.”

“Are you sure?”

“It was over there. You can even see the traces of Lady Rainwales disposing of the body.”

Indeed, there were traces of something melted on the ground where he pointed.

Geez, how brutal.

“So what were you doing until now? Where are your companions?”

“One of us stayed behind to chase those who escaped. And I got separated from the guy I was with.”

Hmm, right. So he came back after failing to catch them, and this is the situation now.

‘Wait a minute, then who triggered the event?’

I subtly asked him who destroyed the island’s offering, but I couldn’t get the answer I wanted.

“The sea suddenly changed…? I don’t know either. The ground suddenly started shaking while I was chasing them, and then the surroundings darkened.”

Huh, he doesn’t know either?

This is unsettling.

That’s when, as I was standing there silently, organizing my thoughts…

…he cautiously asked me a question.

“So, what happened to Lady Rainwales? There was no one here when I arrived.”

It was the same question he asked when we first met.

Hmm, did he answer all my questions honestly because he was curious about this?

Although I couldn’t be sure…

Tadat.

…two figures appeared from beyond the bushes just as I was about to answer.

“Erwen! Look! It’s Bjorn!!”

“Ah, mister! You’re here!”

It was Ainar and Erwen.

Trial

I like Korean novels (Murim, Dukes, Reincarnation, etc, etc, etc)

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